Let's Get Started With Choosing a Book to Begin Your Journey
With three distinct writing voices and books ranging from children’s adventures to novels, memoir, essays, poetry, and observational humor, there’s a lot to explore. Start with what you enjoy reading, and we’ll point you toward the voice—and the books—that might be the right fit.
For Younger Readers (roughly 4–8) Choose from the Seamus Ailin Bookshelf
Start with:
Paws, Peanut Butter & Penguins (Seamus Ailin™)
Best for readers who:
Love animals and playful poems
Enjoy read-aloud bedtime books
Still believe the world is a little bit magical
Tone: Wonder-filled, warm, and whimsical
For Thoughtful Preteens (roughly 10–15) choose from the Sawdust Sage™ Bookshelf
Start with:
Definitely Something, You Decide
Best for readers who:
Are too cool for little-kid books
Aren’t quite ready for heavy adult themes
Enjoy humor mixed with “huh… that’s interesting” moments
Tone: Light, thoughtful, and quietly funny
For Readers Who Want a Story to Settle Into Try a James Allen Novel
Start with:
The James Allen novel A Signal Between Notes
For Reflective Adults
Start with books from The Sawdust Sage™:
Unrequested Advice About Love, Marriage & Other Topics
Best for readers who:
Enjoy life wisdom with a dry smile
Like short pieces they can dip into
Appreciate Midwestern common-sense observations
Tone: Warm, reflective, gently wry
For Readers Who Love Craft, Work & Meaning, The Sawdust Sage Bookshelf is the Place to start
Start with:
Sawdust to Stardust
Best for readers who:
Work with their hands
Appreciate blue-collar philosophy
Like reflection grounded in real life
Tone: Grounded, thoughtful, quietly philosophical
For Readers Who Want the Most Humor,The Sawdust Sage Bookshelf is the Place to startStart with:
Start with:
Definitely Something, You Decide
THE SAWDUST LOUNGE PRESENTS: On Tonight’s Stardust Stage…
or
Selections from The Sawdust Sage™
Best for readers who:
Want something clever but not heavy
Enjoy observational humor
Like short, shareable pieces
Still Not Sure?
At markets, I usually ask one simple question:
“Do you want something more funny… or more thoughtful?”
For Readers Who Have Opinions and Enjoy Different Perspectives, the James Allen Bookshelf Is the Place to Start
Start with:
Essays From the Porch
Unrequested Advice About Love, Relationships and Other Topics: An Observationalist’s Take